HPP was delighted to launch the Radioligand Therapy Readiness Assessment Framework at an online event on 9 June. The launch was an ancillary event to the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2021 Conference, and we were joined by a stellar panel of international and multidisciplinary experts.
Moderating the event was Suzanne Wait, HPP Managing Director, who opened the session by giving some background to radioligand therapy and the project more widely. Following Suzanne’s introduction, we had presentations from Professor Ken Herrmann (Director of the Clinic for Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Essen) on why we need a framework for radioligand therapy, and Josh Mailman (President, NorCal CarciNET Community) on why the therapy is needed and his own journey as a radioligand therapy patient.
After the presentations we held two panel discussions: on what a ready policy environment for radioligand therapy looks like and on clinical readiness in the US as a case study. The panellists were:
- Josh Mailman, NorCal CarciNET Community
- Dr Diana Paez, International Atomic Energy Agency
- Professor Hein van Poppel, European Association of Urology
- Associate Professor Jolanta Kunikowska, European Association of Nuclear Medicine
- Dr Ronald Ennis, American Society for Radiation Oncology
- Dr Richard Wahl, Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
- Dr Ajay Gopal, University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
- Dr Michael Morris, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
We heard from a range of experts in the field on developments in radioligand therapy and how we can best prepare health systems for its integration. Common themes emerged around the importance of multidisciplinary working, training and education, as well as common international guidelines and equitable access to care. Michael Morris closed the last panel discussion on an optimistic note: ‘Now is the time to strike. The iron is hot for new treatments.’
The next event from this project, the launch of the UK application of the framework, will take place later this year.
Find out more about the radioligand therapy project and download the framework on the radioligand project website.
